I-- I try. I'm supposed to be good. I have to do what Father says.
[ he fidgets, fingers curling in his shirt, chewing his lip. ] .. I don't know. Maybe. When Father gets mad at me, the-- the Crest Worms-- [ his voice trembles, trails off. ] Bad stuff happens.
[ a hesitant nod, fingers curling and uncurling. ] There's so.. many.. And there's a lot inside me, and when they-- [ a small twitch, arms curling over his stomach. ] I don't want more.
This child, he realizes, is being eaten alive by worms placed inside him by his father.]
Of course you don't. It must hurt so much, doesn't it? [Nothing but sympathy and concern in Johan's voice.] But you have to go down there. You don't have any choice. That's the way things are.
[ he knows better than to cry. he has to be strong. he'll inherit the matou magic one day, and he knows his father is just trying to make sure he's the strongest. but the thought of going back down there again and again leaves him trembling. ]
I'm-- I'm Kariya. You said.. Father doesn't know I'm here?
[Johan watches Kariya tremble and try to contain himself. What kind of man is this boy going to grow into, if he survives? A child that has suffered so much...]
It's nice to meet you, Kariya. You're from Japan, aren't you? My best friend is from Japan. I hope we can be friends, too.
No, he doesn't. Like I said, this place is different. You're away from your usual life, but no one notices.
[ he nods, offering a tiny, tremulous smile. ] I'm from Fuyuki, Johan-san. I-- I'd like to be friends, too. As.. long as Father never finds out. He wouldn't like it.
I've traveled a lot, but never so far. It would be nice, wouldn't it, to be able to see all the different countries in the world? I hope you're able to go someday.
I like fairy tales, too. What's your favorite story?
[He nods, as if he understands.]
No one wants to be a burden. It's a terrible thing, to be weak. Do the worms help with that? Do they make you stronger?
[ a pause, considering that oh-so-seriously, little face screwed up in concentration. ] I like the one about Snow White a lot. It's happy. And-- And Hansel and Gretel, 'cause they beat the mean witch.
[ he fidgets, then, fingers curling against his belly again. ] I.. I guess so. Father says so. But they hurt a lot.
[ a distressed little noise, using both hands to try to cover his blind eye and scars. ] The.. The Crest Worms. They did.. stuff. [ he doesn't want to think about that. ]
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You don't have to go back if you don't want to. You're safe, here.
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That's true. We all belong to our families. They make us what we are.
Yet you said you didn't want to go back. Why is that, if it's where you should be?
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Do you always try to be good?
[A beat.]
Does it help?
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[ he fidgets, fingers curling in his shirt, chewing his lip. ] .. I don't know. Maybe. When Father gets mad at me, the-- the Crest Worms-- [ his voice trembles, trails off. ] Bad stuff happens.
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Your father gets mad a lot, doesn't he? My father was the same way. [Johan, you didn't even know your father...]
The Crest Worms. [Johan repeats the term thoughtfully.] In the basement.
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This child, he realizes, is being eaten alive by worms placed inside him by his father.]
Of course you don't. It must hurt so much, doesn't it? [Nothing but sympathy and concern in Johan's voice.] But you have to go down there. You don't have any choice. That's the way things are.
What's your name? I'm Johan.
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I'm-- I'm Kariya. You said.. Father doesn't know I'm here?
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It's nice to meet you, Kariya. You're from Japan, aren't you? My best friend is from Japan. I hope we can be friends, too.
No, he doesn't. Like I said, this place is different. You're away from your usual life, but no one notices.
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[He asks with a foreigner's hopeful eagerness to speak correctly.]
I promise, I won't tell. It'll be our secret.
I hope you won't have to go back for a while. Until then, we can have fun. What do you most like to do?
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[ at the question, though, his expression falls uncertainly. ] I.. I don't know.
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[This answer to his question, when it comes, doesn't surprise Johan in the least.]
Don't you ever have fun at home, Kariya-kun?
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[ a pause, then, before shrugging a little, chewing his lip again. ] Father says I have a duty to my family.
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Do you like fairy tales?
That sounds hard, but it must be important. What is it you do for your family?
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Umm.. Well.. I'm-- I'm just a burden right now, but I won't be forever. One day I'll be the head of the family, so I have to be really strong.
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I like fairy tales, too. What's your favorite story?
[He nods, as if he understands.]
No one wants to be a burden. It's a terrible thing, to be weak. Do the worms help with that? Do they make you stronger?
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[ a pause, considering that oh-so-seriously, little face screwed up in concentration. ] I like the one about Snow White a lot. It's happy. And-- And Hansel and Gretel, 'cause they beat the mean witch.
[ he fidgets, then, fingers curling against his belly again. ] I.. I guess so. Father says so. But they hurt a lot.
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...What happened to your face? And your eye? And your hair?
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[He asks in innocent confusion.]
...But whatever they are, they must be really bad.
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